Samuel b



(No Model.)

S. B. GUERNSEY.

FOOT COVERING. N0. 342,438. Patented May 25, 1886.

WITNESSES INVENTUR UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL B. GUERNSEY, OF CORONA, ASSIGNOR OF ONF-HALF TO \VILLIAM M. DUOKER,.OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOOT-COVERING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,438, dated May 25,1886.

Application filed October 15, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1', SAMUEL B. GUERNSEY, of Oorona, New York, have invented a new and useful article of wearing-apparel, consisting of a non-conducting inner shoe adapted to be worn over the foot and within the shoe, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the draw ings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of one form of an upper. Fig. 2 is a view of the sole. Fig. 3 is a view of the foot-covering complete. Fig. 4 is a view of the flap O, and Fig. 5 is a section on the line a x of Fig. 3.

As is well known, in many climates and in sudden and severe changes of weather it becomes important and necessary to guard and protect the feet from cold and dampness. This 2c can be conveniently done in many instances by the use of overshoes, generally constructed of rubber; but, except in very wet weather, rubber presents many objections. It overheats the feet, making them very sensitive to cold when the overshocs are removed. The

rubber also contracts and draws or compresses the feet, producing: considerable discom fort to the wearer. It also has a tendency to injure the leather, is expensive, and when the overshoes are made of sufficient strength they are heavy and cumbersome.

The object of my invention is an article of wearing-apparel which will protect the feet from cold anddampness, which can be cheaply made, which is light, not liable to injure the material of the shoe, nor to draw the fcet,which takes up but little space, which is not cumbersome, and which can be easily constructed.

My invention is a foot-covering, being essentially an ancillary or interior shoe, made of a light non-conducting material, (paper present ing many advantages for the purpose,) and adapted to be worn over the stocking and within the ordinary shoe usually worn.

In carrying out my invention, I may form my ancillary foot-coverin g by shaping the pulp in a suitable mold; but I now prefer to make it in parts, as shown in the drawings. A is the upper portion, and may be cut of suitable shape to cover the upper surface of the foot.

Serial No. 179,920. (No model.)

B is the sole, cut to the required size, and the upper A and sole B are cemented or otherwise firmly secured to each other to form the structure. The parts may be conveniently fitted together over a last. The opening should be left sufficiently large to draw the covering over the foot without tearing it; and to cover this opening and give protection to the forward part of the foot I attach the flap O, which, when the ancillary shoe has been drawn onto the foot, is smoothed down upon it, keeping the edges snugly in position, while the ordinary shoe is drawn on over.it. If desired, a narrow strip, a, of paper or similar material, may be fastened around the upper edge of the part A as a binding, which will strengthen and protect the edge from tearing, and when stiff paper is used'will also guard the hand against being cut by the sharp edge of the upper part.

I have found that the use of such an inner or ancillary shoe gives great increase of warmth and comfort to the feet in cold and damp weather, and that without any of the disadvantages of the ordinary overshoe; that it is especially advantageous for ladies, who are 5 not obliged by its use to increase the size of their shoes, and who usually wear thin shoes and find it very inconvenient to take off and put on over-shoes, and who are averse to wearing overshoes, except in very wet weather, 8c and that the wearer is not nearly so liable to take cold as by the use of overshoes, and that it is a useful and valuable means of preserving health.

Having thus described myinvention, what I 8 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved article of manufacture consistingot'a foot-covering having a suitable sole,

a covering for the sides of the foot, and a portion, as 0, adapted to be drawn over the upper surface of the foot, substantially as described.

2. A paper foot-covering consisting of the upper A, sole B, and flap O, substantially as 5 described and shown.

SAMUEL B. GUERNSEY.

Witnesses:

ERNEST H. PILsBURY, TALLllIADGE \V. FOSTER. 

